By Les Greenberg
Re “Virtual Private Parking Lot – 10700 Block of Farragut Drive”
Every one of the 15 households on Farragut Drive signed a petition opposing the Grace Lutheran Church’s current anti-Farragut efforts.
Ken Smith’s missive on Friday says more by what it does not deny—(1) his relationships with City Councilman Andy Weissman are driving the City Council’s efforts regarding permit-only-parking restrictions on Farragut; (2) no activity at the church has been impacted due to parking-restrictions on Farragut; (3) the church’s efforts to raise this issue were twice rejected by the city Traffic Engineer within the past year; (4) within the past year, over the church’s objection, this same City Council grandfathered our rights that had been in place for 32 years; and (5) two-hour-parking restrictions are not enforceable.
Mr. Smith ignores the 800-pound gorillas—under Culver City’s Procedures and Regulations, the church has no legal right to petition the City Council concerning the Traffic Engineer’s refusal to consider its requests, and the City Council has no legal right to order the Traffic Engineer to do what he has twice refused to do.
We have repeatedly been tested. Where was Mr. Smith in 1982 when the City Council decided in favor of permit-only parking restrictions on Farragut? Where was he in 2004, when the City Council enhanced and grandfathered the restrictions? Where was he in 2013 when, after four public hearings, the City Council grandfathered the restrictions?
Mr. Smith claims that Farragut enjoys a “virtual private-parking lot.” The Meals-on-Wheels program has many exemption permits—except for those revoked by the city due to parking abuses. Disabled persons can park where they want. On Sept. 8, 2013, Mr. Smith publicly stated, “On Sunday, I am sure that [the church has] filled up every parking place on Farragut that there is between 8 in the morning and 2.”
Mr. Smith’s implied concession that the Farragut restrictions cause no problem to the church means that his complaint is just based on envy.
But according to the records of the Secretary of State, Mr. Smith is the President of a for-profit corporation named Grace Diner that was formed on Sept. 9, 2013,with its principal location on the church’s property. What’s going on? Could Mr. Smith be more than just envious? Could there be an undisclosed issue of potential personal gain?
Mr. Smith does not realize that if the parking-flood gates were opened, the church (and the for-profit corporation) would have to compete for parking space with parents and teachers from five schools, apartment dwellers, and employees and customers of multiple businesses on Overland Avenue. No space would be reserved for the church (and the for-profit corporation).
Mr. Smith apparently expects the Culver City taxpayers to pay for his pressure on some City Councilpersons. Are the church and the for-profit corporation volunteering to pay $20,000 for the city’s traffic study? Will the church and the for-profit corporation make up the $20,000 per year that Farragut currently generates in traffic-citation revenue?
Mr. Smith fails to answer why the church (and the for-profit corporation) won’t defer to experts — the Traffic Engineer — and to the City Council’s Nov. 12, 2013 grandfathering decision. Upon what facts does he claim to know more than they do?
Mr. Greenberg may be contacted at plgreen@att.net
